LIBYA has said it had not admitted responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing, but had paid compensation to ''buy peace''.

The country's prime minister also claimed there was no evidence to prove Yvonne Fletcher, the policewoman, was murdered by a Libyan gunman in London 10 years ago.

Shokri Ghanem's comments to be broadcast on BBC Radio Four's Today programme are certain to provoke outrage.

Tony Blair is due to visit Libya soon.

Libya has paid about (pounds) 2.2m to each of the families of the 270 people killed in the Lockerbie bombing. However, Dr Ghanem said that Libya had paid the compensation to bring to an end the damaging sanctions imposed on the country.